42 CANTATORES. SONGSTERS. 



than the tibia ; the hind toe is composed of a distinct meta- 

 tarsal bone and two phalanges ; the second of three, the third 

 of four, the fourth of five phalanges ; the extreme phalanges 

 of moderate length, conical, slightly arched, laterally grooved. 



The muscular system is moderately developed, the muscles of 

 the wings and legs rather large. The trachea is simple, of nearly 

 uniform diameter ; the inferior larynx small and composed of 

 narrow rings ; the bronchi of moderate length and width. It 

 lies, along with the oesophagus, on the right side of the neck, has 

 five distinct pairs of laryngeal muscles, two pairs of contractors, 

 a pair of sterno-tracheales, and five pairs of inferior laryngeal 

 muscles. The liver is very large, of two unequal lobes ; the 

 gall-bladder globular. The nostrils are small and oblong ; the 

 eyes of moderate size ; the external aperture of the ear large and 

 transversely elliptical. The skin is very delicate ; some species 

 when in good condition have a great accumulation of subcuta- 

 neous fat chiefly along the insertion of the feathers. 



The arrangement of the plumage is as follows : — There are 

 four kinds : quills, feathers, down-feathers, and hair-feathers. 



The quills are generally eighteen, ten being primary, the first 

 or outer always very small. Three pollical quills. Twelve 

 tail-quills, the two middle above the line of the rest. 



The feathers, j)roperly so called, are inserted on the head all 

 round, on an elevated line from the occiput to the middle of 

 the back, where it enlarges into a triangular space, then sud- 

 denly contracts, and continues narrow to the uropygial gland ; 

 from a similar broad line running down from the fore part of 

 the neck, dividing below into two broader bands, each of which 

 runs along the middle portion of the side of the thorax, and 

 over the abdomen to near the vent ; from a short band crossing 

 the humerus, a line margining the anterior membrane of the 

 wing, and a line running along the base of the quills ; from 

 similar lines under the wings ; from a short band across the 

 femur passing halfway to the vent ; from the outer part of the 

 tibia sparsely, and from its whole circumference below ; and 

 from a small transverse space above and another below the tail. 

 The ears and anus are also margined with a distinct circle; and 

 there is a row of bristle-tipped feathers on each side near the 

 base of the upper mandible. 



